Patna: CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has said that the unexpectedly high turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections shows a clear wave of change in the state. Talking to reporters on Sunday, he said that the Grand Alliance fought this election on public issues that matter to common people. Their campaign, he explained, focused on lowering the prices of gas cylinders, providing 200 units of free electricity, freeing women from debt, protecting farmers, and ensuring law and order. “We have asked for votes on real issues and promises that can be fulfilled,” Bhattacharya said. He added that the first phase had seen record voting and predicted that the second phase would break all previous records.
According to Bhattacharya, there are three main reasons behind the high turnout. First, there is a strong desire among people to change the government. He said that this is a clear sign of anti-incumbency, as whenever people want change, it is reflected in their votes. The second reason, he explained, was increased awareness among voters. He said that the voter education campaign, known as SIR, played an important role in making people aware of their right to vote. “People felt the need to protect themselves from conspiracies to steal their votes,” Bhattacharya said.
The CPI-ML leader also mentioned that there was great enthusiasm among the poor, migrant workers, and Muslim voters. However, he pointed out that despite this enthusiasm, many people could not find their names on the voter list. Bhattacharya explained that around 4.7 million voters were missing from the lists, and because of this, while the total number of voters decreased, the percentage of those who voted appeared higher. He said people strongly opposed any attempt of fake or fraudulent voting, which led to tension and even attacks on voters and candidates in some areas.
Bhattacharya also criticised the language used by leaders of the ruling NDA during their campaign. He said that speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other NDA leaders sounded threatening. “Why are they speaking the language of power cuts and stopping people from coming out of their homes?” he asked. “If there has been so much development, why is the Prime Minister using the language of fear?” Bhattacharya called this a dangerous sign and said the people of Bihar have answered such threats through their votes and strong participation in the election.
